Driver falls asleep, crashes her car

Tuesday, March 27, 2012

A Lackawanna County driver fell asleep at the wheel of her car and crashed along Interstate 81 in Mahanoy Township, Schuylkill County. State police at Frackville said the accident occurred about 10:20 a.m. on Monday, March 26.

Trooeprs said Diane A. Poindexter, 62, of Peckville, was operating a 2008 Kia Rondo southbound when she fell asleep.

The car went onto the shoulder and impacted with a stone embankment. The car then flipped over onto its roof.

Poindexter and passenger, Corey A. Poindexter, 39, also of Peckville, were not injured.

A backseat passenger, Melissa D. Carrasquillo, 41, also of Peckville, was injured and sustained a head injury.

She had to be extricated from the car by rescue personnel and was flown by Lifeflight helicopter to the Geisinger Medical Center, Danville, for treatment of what troopers said was a moderate injury.

Troopers noted Carrasquillo was not wearing a seat belt, while the others were.